Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-24
LABOR CONVENTION.
PLATFORM OF pRIycPLrs ADOPTED
YESTERDAY.
Condemnation Of Congress and Trans
por,ation Corporations Alarming Con-
dition Of the Country-A New
Political Party Urged.
Ipy telegraph to the pispasct.l

GCr (pnVeluOn spent tueud uoVSo
TO speeches and communications on
all sorts of subjects related in any way
TO the labor interests, to till up the time
until the platform shall be prepared
One delegate spoke upon the wrongs
of intending Oklahoma settlers.
The following is the platform
Freambk.-The delegates OF the various In
dus;rial and reform political ORGANIZATIONS
have assembled from thrty-one States ana
Territories ON this the anniversary OF the pirth
of "The Father OF His Country" TO view the
situation of public affairs and advise proper
action General discomfort prevails on the
pnrt of the wealth producers: the farmers are
suffering from the poverty which has iorced
most OF them TO mortgage thelr estates. anu
tho prices OF products are 80 low az 70 orer no
roIlef except through the bankruptcy OF the
laborers aud a sinking into greater and greater
dependence. Strikes are resorted 10 WITHOUT
bringing relief, because OF the inaDuly
Of the employers In many cases 10 pay
living wages. while more ana more az, Ii,e uaWen
into The streets. Businessmen ind collec-
tiops almost impossible. Meantime hunnreds
Of millions OF idle public money, which isneed-
ed for relief. is locked up In the Untsed states
Treasury In grim mocSery OF the dl5Iess;
ard rnouopoly iourishes "a never before, ana
mCTe and more the owners of the soil are daiy
bcconlipe tenents. The great transportation
corporations still succeed In extfacnns
their profits upon watered stock through
unjust charges. The United Sta'es
senate has become an open scandal,
rs seats being purchased by the rich In
oren defiance Of the popular viii. The trifiing
fisheries dispute Is seized upon az an excuse
for squsndering pubic money, upon unneces,
sary military preparations, which are designed
10 breed a spirit Of war, to ape European
Lespotism, and 10 empty the Treasury without
paying the public debt. 49,
Under these and other alarming conditions
we appeal TO the people OF the whole country
10 come out Of the old party organizations,
whose Indifference to the public welfare ~ re-
sp0nsIble for this distress, and help
us 10 organize new p0litical par-
iy, not sectional but national, whose ueinoets
shall be called CommOner5, whose onlsct shau
be 10 repeal all cass-laws in favor OF tho rich,
and 70 relieve the distress OF our industries by
establishing the following principles:
!. Ldnd.--Eyery human being possesses nat
ural inalienable right TO sufficient land Tor
| self-support and we desire 20 secure TO every
| industrious citizen home "A the highest re-
| suit OF "A free institution. To this end we de-
mand graduated land tax on all large estates,
| especi1lJy those held for speculative or ten
| ant purposes the reclamation OF all unearned
| land grants: the immediate opening OF OKm-
| homa to Homestead settlement; the purchase
Of all unOccupied Indian lands and the settle
| nent of various tribes upon lands In seVe-
| raity; also laws preventing corporations from
! acquiring real estate beyond the requirements
/ Of their business aud the alien ownership OF
land. The system Of irrigation in the States
| Gnd Territories whore necessary shail oe uh,
der such public control as shall secure free and
equitable use Of waters and iranchlse 10 the
D Trapgrorfafi0n. means % communi-
cation and transportation should be oWneI or
controlled by the people, as IL she United states
postal system, ana equitable rates eSEywhere
| establi he'd.
! q Ecner.-We favor the establishment Of a no
! tioual monetary system la the interest OF the
| producer instead of the spec,llator and usifer,
by which circulating medium, In necessary
quantities and full legal tender, shan be l5Slsu
directly 10 the people without tie lnterVeatlph
q hanks, or l0ared TO citizens upon ample Sc
curity nj low rates OF interest 10 roneFe
| thern from the extorioIs OF usufy ana
enable them 10 control the mOhey supply
postal saving banks should be establish vi:
While we have FREQ coinage OF gold we should
have free coinage OF silyor. we demand
urompt payment OF the national debt, aud
condemn further issue Of interes~bearing
bends either by the national Government or Dy
the States. Territories, counties, or municlpali-
ties. ,, ,
strikes aud other injurious methods Of settling
labor disputes. The letting OF convict laDOr 70
contractors should be prohibited; contracts pe
abolished on public works; hours OF lapor III
industrial establishments should be reduced
cornnipnsurate with the increase OF production
! in labor-say ing machinery; employees protect
ed from bodily injury, equal pay being gwen
| for equal work for both sexes, ana laoor' hgil
| cultural and cooperative ASSOCIATIONS DO IoS
tered and Incorporated by law. The tounia
lion of the republic Is the Intelligence OF lts cltl
geDs. Children who are driven into workshops
mines and factories are deprived OF the edu
| cation which should DO secured 10 all by prope
| IeoisIation We desire 20 see labor organization
| extend throughout civilized countries until
hall be impossible for despots 10 array th'
workipgmen Of one country In war agains
their brothers OF another country
/ S.Edtara and STs/gTS- n dplrcflAtiOn OF tli
J services Of the United States soldiers an
.allors we demand for them justice beior'
! charity. The purpOsely-deprecialed none
| raid them during the war should he mai'
equal In value TO the gold paid the bondholdor
The colder was promised coin or Its eluivalen
and paid In deprecated paper. Ihe Dond
holder loaned the Government depreclate'
paper and contracted 10 take IL back, but wa
| raid In gold. =,
q Income Td1-A graduated income tax.
he most equitable system OF taxation, placlnl
he burden Of Government on those VINO cal
best afford to pay. instead OF laying lt on tar
ers and producers and exempting mllllohair
bondbOlders and corporations
z Tinted States Se1dfe.-Iho capture OF Tn
United states senate by milliOnaircs and IN
tools OF corporations, who have no sympath
with free institutions, threatens tho very ez
istence of tho republic. We demand const
tulional amendment making the election q
United States senators by the direct vote of th
people. -.
, n. me fNtNfsf.--Nu'l Eitht' uht hHta'""A
should be rassed as shall efiectually exclul
{ rom America Mongolian slave and Asiati
competition.
9. ARMED MeR.-The employment OF bodies
armed men by private corporations should D
! prohibited ,-,.,
TO- Equaiity.-The right TO vote Is inherent !
{ citizenship, Irrespective OF sex.
H. TtmDerGnce.-Excessiye wealth, resultn
in luxury and idleness on one hand ana "a
/ resgiye toll and poverty on the other, leads
iptemperance and vice. The measures OF r.
form here demanded will prove tc DO a sciei
! life solution Of the temperance question.